Review: 28 Questions by Indyana Schneider

Is it possible to enjoy a love story that ends in heartbreak? That is the question posed in the introduction to 28 Questions, the debut novel from Indiana Schneider. From the outset, the reader knows that the relationship in this one will end badly. And while I cannot speak for all readers, I can say that I enjoyed the story very much.

Amalia is a first year music student at Oxford College. One evening, a mutual friend introduces her to Alex, a fellow Australian at Oxford. The pair quickly form an intense friendship that, as Amalia becomes more self aware of who she is and what she wants out of life, that becomes a relationship. But can friends ever really become lovers? What does it take to truly fall in love with another person? And what happens when that relationship ends.

Each chapter is based around 28 questions that, when answered, are purported to make a couple fall in love with one another. Through these questions, we follow Amalia as she navigates her way through university and then out into the real world, maturing along the way. Intercepted into the narrative are bits of music that she writes, mostly things that reflect her feelings for Alex.

This was an interesting glimpse into what it means to leave home and to be living in a new and strange place when faced with some of life's big questions. I found parts of the novel quite intense, while other parts had a lovely level of self-awareness. Initially, I thought that this one would be very similar to Normal People, but with a same sex relationship, but I was soon proven wrong. 28 Questions has its own unique story and characters, and works all the better for it. And despite knowing that it ended in heartbreak, I most definitely wanted to keep reading and sharing in Amalia's journey.

Overall, 28 Questions is an intelligent read and one very well worth giving a chance.

Recommended. 

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my ARC. 

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